Printing press



Feb. 6, 1945. 1', E, plAzzE 2,368,776

PRINTING PRESS Filed Aug. 26, 1942` 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

U -ri INVENTOR 7PM/7,45 -P/AZZ/f ATTORN EY T. E. PIAZZE` PRINTING PRESSFeb. 6, 1945.

Filed Aug. 26, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7f3/@m45 /D/AZZf T. E.PIAZZE PRINTING PRESS Feb. 6,r 1945'.

` Filed Aug. 2b, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 22M oZ. n Lm O. w. Mm PL m M AHPatented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING PRESS YThomas E. Piazze, Lyndhurst, N. J., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Champlain Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation oi' New York Application August 26, 1942, Serial No. 456,129

13 Claims.

This invention relates to printing presses, and more particularly togravure presses of the closed fountain type.

Some features of the invention are useful in printing presses generally,as Well as in th'p closed fountain type of gravure press, but since allthe features are useful in closed fountain presses, some exclusively so,the invention is illustratively disclosed herein as embodied in a closedfountain press.

In the usual closed fountain rotogravure press, the printing couple isvertically disposed and comprises an'upper impression Icylinder and alower printing cylinder. An ink reservoirpositioned beneath the printing`cylinder supplies ink through a -pump and suitable conduits, to an inkapplicator which spreads the ink on the surface of the revolvingprinting cylinder. A doctor blade scrapes oil the surplus ink aA shortdistance in advance of the printing line and the remaining ink isapplied to the work web, which runs between the printing and impressioncylinders, by the intaglio or gravure process. The printing cylinder,the reservoir, the puimp and its conduits, the applicator, and thedoctor blade are combined to define a, completely closed system for theink, so that the ink will be kept fresh and of uniform consistencynotwithstanding the employment of very volatile, 'quick-drying solvents.

In a machine of this class, it is necessary from' time to time to changethe ink, as when a different color is needed. or to change the cylindersin accordance with the requirementso'f different jobs. there beingprovided a plurality of cylinders of different diameters adaptedv foralternative use in the machine. concerned largely -with problemsinvolved in makinq these changes, and more particularly7 with reducingthe time required to change the ink and/or the printing cylinder.

It is an important object of the invention to provide for the readyremoval and replacement of the ink reservoir without tilting. so thatthe reservoir can be removed without having previnusly been drained.and.y this by means which is economical and efficient and which involvesrelatively simple changes and slight additions to the machine. f

It is a further important obiect of the invention to provide novelsupporting and adjustinfr means for the doctor blade and the apurtenantparts whereby the doctor blade can be ouicklv adjusted into a desiredrelation to any one of the available printingr cylinders and. havinfrbeen so adjusted. can be swung away from the cylinder for cleaning. orto give access to the cylinder, and then immediately restored to thesame adjusted relationship without any necessity The present inventionis` (ill l. lol-157) for rechecking or readjustment on the part of theoperator.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill appear from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a portion of a gravurepress embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in end elevation of the same portion of thepress illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly broken away, showing mostof the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; l

Fig. 4 is a detail, sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 6 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating a modifiedconstruction;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in sectional elevation, thesection beingtaken fupon the line 6--6 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of thearrows; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the ink reservoir.

I'he illustrative machine will be described from the point of viewof'one looking at the machine from the delivery end, and the terms frontIrean right and left Will be used in this sense throughout. l

Referring to the drawings, the machine in'- cludes a f rame I whichcomprises left and right frame members 2 and 3, upon which all of theother parts and mechanisms to be described are supported. A work Vwebl4, which may be paper or any other material to'be printed, is fedthrough the machine between an upper impression cylinder 5 and a lowerprinting cylinder 6, supported in frame portions 1 at opposite sides ofthe machine. An ink reservoir Ilv supported beneath the cylinder 6carries a supply of ink which is drawn off by a pump 9 and delivered toan applicator I0 under pressure. The applicator I0 spreads the ink onthe surface of the lprinting cylinder 6, and a doctor blade I I servesto scrape off the surplus inkv a short distance in advance of theprinting line. The ink is applied to the work web at the point oftangency of the cylinders 5 and 6. f l

Although' the 'cylinders 6 are provided in different sizes adapted foralternative use in the machine. each cylinder carries at opposite endsthereof enlarged hub portions I3. Said hub portions I3 are of uniformdiameter for all sizes of cylinders and may include suitable bearingmeans for the cylinder shaft, if desired. The ink reservoir 8 comprisesa large lowerI portion I4 having vertical'side and end Walls. and anv.upper portion I5 of less length and width than "the lower pQrtlQn,also .formed with vertica/l side and end walls. The side walls of theupper portion I5 desirably terminate in straight :dat horizontalsurfaces I6, and the end walls terminate in upwardly-facing,semi-cylindrical surfaces I1 which are adapted to t against the lowersides of the respective hub's I3. Since the hubs or bearing members I3are of uniform diameter,

the surfaces I1 of the reservoir will always form a substantially sealedjoint withthe lower halves of said hubs I3, regardless of the size ofprinting cylinder in use.

In accordance with my invention, provision is made for the rapidwithdrawal and replacement of the reservoir when a change of ink. isrequired. This is an especially important feature of my invention. Itwill be noted that the reservoir 8 is adapted to be moved horizontallywith a sliding motion, through an opening I8 formed in the left-handframe member 2, until the ends of the upper portion I5 are containedbetween the frame members 2 and 3. When so disposed, it may then beraised into the operative position illustrated in Fig. 6. A track I9attached to the frame members 2 and 3 is located to engage ribs 20 onthe lower face of the reservoir to support and guide the reservoir inits horizontal movement through the frame opening I8. Vertical guideplates 2I and 22 extend between the frame members 2 and 3 and areattached to the frame members through suitable extension plates 23. Theguide plates 2l and 22 are so located that they snugly but comfortablyreceive the width of the lower portion I4 of the reservoir 8 betweenthem, and together with the track I9 define a guideway for the reservoirin its horizontal o1 introductory movement into the machine. I'he plates2I and 22 also serve to guide and laterally support the reservoir in itssubsequent vertical movement.

A shaft 24, journaled in the frame members 2 and 3, has clamped to itsleft-hand end, which projects leftward from the frame member 2, anoperating crank arm 25. Between the frame members 2 and 3, the shaft 24has keyed to it a, pair of load-bearing arms 26, each of which carries aroller 21 for engaging a wear plate or boss 28 on the bottom face of thereservoir 8. The rollers are situated at opposite sides of the centerofgravity of the reservoir and at substantial distances from the centerof gravity, so that they provide a stable .support for the reservoir inthe vertical movement thereof.

Track I9 is formed with a rear rail 29 for engaging one of the ribs 20of the reservoir and a front rail 30 for engaging the other rib. Therear rail 29 is continuous. However, as best shown in Fig. 2, the frontrail 30 is divided into three parts, the track being formed with slots3| for accommodating the movement of the cranks 26 to their loweredpositions. Between the rails 29 and 30, the track I9 is formed withdepressions 32 for accommodating the rollers 21 in their loweredpositions.

. The operating arm 25 is equipped with a conventional spring-pressedplunger type handle 33, which, in cooperation with a recess 34 formed inthe frame member 2, serves to latch the arm 25 in raised position and,therefore, to detain the reservoir in the raised position illustrated inFigs. 1 and 6 with the surface I1 seated against the peripheries of thehubs I3.

The upper portion of the reservoir I5 is disposed toward the right-handend and toward the rear with reference to the lower portion I4 of thereservoir. There is provided, therefore, at

the left-hand end of the lower portion I4 an extending portion whichdoes not pass through the frame member 2, but which projects to the leftof the frame member when the reservoir is in the operative positionillustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, the projecting relation of this portion ofthe reservoir being best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The projectingleft-hand end of the lower portion of the reservoir is formed in itsupper surface with a ller opening which is normally closed by aremovable cover 35. The 'cover 35 in turn is formed with a small peepopening 36 through which an ullage rod may be inserted to measure thedepth of the ink. The opening 36 is normally covered by a pivoted plate31 which is formed with an operating handle 38. Plate 31 maybe swung toone side to enable the operator to look into the reservoir or to measurethe depth of the ink. If replenishment is found necessary, the cover isremoved and ink is poured in through the filling opening.

It will be noted that the top wall of the lower portion I4 of thereservoir is also formed with an opening 39 forwardly of the upperportion I5 and to the left thereof. This opening 39 is adapted toreceive a stationary, vertical pipe 40 which is supported from the framemember 2 at the outer or left-hand side thereof and a little in front ofthe front boundary of the frame opening I8. 'I'he pipe 4D is in verticalalignment with the opening 39 when the reservoir has been thrust inwardhorizontally as far as it can go and is ready to be raised vertically.The raising of the reservoir causes the opening 39 to be carried upwardaround the pipe 40 and the bottom of the interior of the reservoir to belocated in proximity tothe pipe 4.0. The pipe 40 constitutes an intakepipe for the pump 9.

Intake pipe 40 is supported from an elbow 4I which is held by means of aclamp plate 42 and screws 43 to the outer for left-hand face of theframe member. The pipe 49 communicates through the elbow 4I and a nipple44 with a flexible tube 45 which extends across the machine and throughan opening 46 of the frame member 3. The tube 45 is connected through anipple 41 with an intake fitting 48 of the pump 9. The pump 9 iscarriedv on a bracket 49 which is secured to the frame member 3 bymachine screws 50. 'I'he pump frame is also secured to the frame member3 by upper and lower sets of machine screws 5I. At the discharge side,

the pump is connected through a flexible-tube 52 with the applicator I0through a nipple 53.

As best shown in Fig. 6, the ink applicator comprises a bored arm 54which is keyed to a transverse shaft 55, the shaft being journaled inthe frame members 2 and 3 and adapted to be rocked by an operatingr arm56. The operating arm 56 is clamped on a portion of the shaft 55 whichprojects leftward beyond the left-hand frame member 2; and said arm 56is equipped with a conventional plunger type handle 51 which, incooperation with a recess 58 formed in the frame member 2, can be usedto detain the applicator in an inoperative, retracted position whendesired.

The arm 54 of the applicator is formed with a side extension throughwhich an abutment screw 59 is adjustably threaded. A lock nut 6D alsothreaded onto the screw 59 serves to x the screw 59 in adjustedposition. The screw 59 cooperates with a fixed abutment 6I on the framemember 2 to limit approach of the applicator toward the cylinder 6 andthereby to limit the pressure with which the applicator bears againstthe cylinder 6.

The arm 54 is connected through screws 62 with a bored and chamberedmember 63 which forms part of the applicator head. A complementarymember 64 is clamped to the member 63 by bolts 65. The members 63 and 64jointly form a chamber 66 through which the ink is conducted to theouter end of the applicator and there applied under pressure through aperforated plate 61 to a wick member 68 which is formed of felt or anyother suitable porous material. The perforated plate 61 and the wick 68are clamped against the outer ends of the member 63 and 64 by means ofan angle Plate 69 and screws 10.

A flexible sealing plate 1I, clamped between abutting walls of themembers 63 and 64, ex' tends downward across the forward upper sur faceI6 of the reservoir, to form a sealed joint therewith. The plate 1I islong enough to extend completely from one of the hubs I3 to the other,and the same thing is true of the entire applicator in that portionwhich extends above the plate 1I. Thus, the printing cylinder 6, theupper portion of the applicator, the plate 1 I, and the forward wall ofthe reservoir dene a continuous enclosing wall when the applicator is inthe position illustrated in Fig. 6. Access to the printing cylinder canbe readily had simply by swinging the applicator to a retracted positionthrough operation of the handle 51, and latching it in retractedposition.

Provision is also made for forming a complete and continuous enclosurebetween the cylinder 6 and the reservoir 8 to the rear of the cylinderthrough the doctor blade II and appurtenant parts. for adjusting thedoctor blade relative to its support in accordance with the size ofprinting cylinder 6 employed, for adjusting the doctor blade angularlyof-the cylinder 6 to locate it at a proper distance from the printingpoint for cylinders of different sizes, and forswinging the doctor bladeout of the way and back to operative position without the necessity forrechecking or readjusting the position of the doctor blade.

It will be noted that doctor blade I I is mounted between upper andlower clamping jaws 12 and 13 which, in turn, are mounted upon a block14 constituting the doctor blade carrier. The doctorblade is formed withslots 15 through which clamping screws 16 pass. The screws 16 serve bothto clamp the doctor blade in adjusted position relative to the jaws 12and 13, and detachably to secure the jaws 12 and 13 to the block 14.'I'he block 14 is formed with'forwardly-extending ears 11 upon which across bar 18 is carried. A flexible leaf spring 19 attached to the upperface of the cross bar 18 bears against the lower face of the doctorblade I I, pressing it rmly upwardly against the lower face of the jaw12. A sealing plate 80 clamped to a forward face of the cross bar 18through a clamping bar 8| bears against an inner rea-r wall of thereservoir 8 to form a sealed joint therewith. rIhe ilexible sealingplate 80, the leaf spring 19, and the doc- In this connection, means areprovided' rocking support for the doctor blade carrier 14 and is movableto diiferent positions, as Will be described presently. One normal oroperative position of the supporting frame 85 is that illustrated inFig. 6 where it will be seen that said frame 85 comprises a hub portion-86 which is clamped by means of screws 81 to a transverse shaft 88journaled in the frame members 2 and 3.

The rack segments 84 are desirably formed as integral portions of thesupporting frame 85 and have arcuate track members 89 aflixed to them bymeans of completely embedded screws 98. The block 14 is formed witharcuate channels 9| which fit upon the arcuate track members 89. Theblock 14 is formed with a slot 92 to divide the block lntoopposedclamping jaws 93 and 94. A machine screw 95 is passed through the jaw 93and threaded into the jaw 94 and may be operated to draw the jaws towardone another and p thus cause the block 14 to be clamped firmly andimmovably upon the guides 89. When the screw 95 is retracted a little,however, the clamping pressure is relieved and the block 14 is free tobe adjusted along the tracks 89 by operation of the pinions 83 along thegear segments 84. The shaft 82 is formed with a polygonal end 96 so thata wrench may be applied to rotate the shaft 82 and with it the pinions63, thereby to eiect adjustment of the block 14 and all of the describedparts which are carried by said block.

If it be assumed that the machine has been operating with a printingcylinder 6 of the size illustrated in the drawings, and that a cylinderof larger size has just been substituted, the doctor blade is firstadjusted by loosening the screws 16 and shifting the doctor bladeoutward until the end edge of the doctor blade engages the substitutedcylinder with the desired pressure and evenness. Then the screws 16 areretlghtened to clamp the doctor blade against further shifting relativeto the clamps 12 and 13 and the carrier block 14.

It will be understood that the doctor blade will have been located at agreater angular distance from the printing line on the replacementcylinder than on the smaller cylinder which it replaced, and at aconsiderably greater linear distance from the printing point, the radiusof the replacement cylinder being greater than that of the cylinderreplaced. It is, therefore, desirable to adjust the doctor blade nearerto the printing I line by operation of the shaft 82 and the pinions 83.Such adjustment will cause the active edge of the doctor blade to travelin a circular path about the axis of the printing cylinder, because thearcuate tracks 89 and the gear segments 84 will be caused to stand inconcentric relation to the cylinder 6 under the conditions of adjustmentnow being described. Any element carried in unison with the block 14,therefore, during adjustment by' operation of the shaft 82 and thepinions 83 will travel in a circular path whose center lies in the axisof the printing cylinder, and will not change its distance from thataxis. As the block 14 is shifted upward, the sealing plate is caused tobear with increased force against the wall of the reservoir 8. The plate8D is suillciently exible, however, to accommodate itself by yielding tothe changed relationship. and no readjustment of the plate 8U relativeto its support is required.

However. it may still be necessary to adjust the pressure of the doctorblade against the cylinder 6. This is done through rocking of thesupport 85 together with the shaft 88 upon which the support is fixed.The supportv 85 has ailixed to it a downwardly-extending, slotted crank91 and slidingly receives a block 98 which is rockingly mounted on a pin99 carried on the outer end of a crank which is keyed to a shaft |0I.'Ihe shaft |0| extends through the left frame member 2 and has clampedto its protruding end a crank |02, so that the cranks |00 and |02together with the shaft |0| constitute in effect a bell crank lever. theshaft |0| and includes-a clamping jaw |03. A screw |04 passed throughthe clamping jaw |03 and threaded into the main body of the arm |02 maybe tightened to clamp the arm upon the shaft' |02 in xed relation t0 theshaft.

An operating lever |05 in the form of a bell crank comprising arms |06and |01 is mounted on the shaft |0| with freedom for rocking movementrelative to the shaft. The arm |01 is formed with an offset, perforatedear |08 in alignment with a bored boss |09 which is formed on the outerend of the arm |02. A rod||0having a head at the lower end and athreaded portion I2 at the upper end is surrounded by a compression coilspring II3, and is passed upward through the ear |08 and the boss 09.The spring bears at the lower end thereof against the head ||I and atthe upper end against the lower face of the ear |08. A hand-operatedadjusting nut ||4 is threaded upon the rod ||2 above the boss |09 andmay be turned to adjust the pressure with which the spring |I3 holds thearms |01 and |02 toward one another. Operating lever |05 is providedwith a handle ||5 of the conventional plunger type which cooperates withan opening'l I6 formed in the frame member 2 for detaining the handle ina retracted position, and with an opening ||1 formed in the frame member2 for detaining the handle in an advanced position.

To adjust the doctor blade assembly toward the cylinder 5, the handle 5is moved counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1. So long as no oppositionto such movement is encountered, the arms |02 and |01 move in unison.When the doctor blade I or the sealing plate 80 encounters opposition,the movement of the handle ||5 is continued, but; the spring ||3 yieldsso that there is a relative separation of the arms |02 and |01.`

Continued forward movement of the arm |02 is effected yieldingly throughthe spring I I3 with progressively increasing force.

When the lever |05 has been swung counterclockwise and detained in theposition mechanically determined by the recess ||1, the stress of thespring ||3 may be adjusted to adjust the pressure of the doctor bladeagainst the roller 6 by turning of the adjusting nut ||4. This is a verydesirable feature because it is not possible to effect a nice adjustmentof the doctor vblade pressure simply by readjusting the position of thedoctor blade between the clamping jaws 12 and 13. The adjusting nut I4affords a micrometric adjustment, and since the threads of the nut I4and the rod ||0 are of very low pitch, it will be apparent that theadjusting nut will maintain its adjusted position without any additionallocking means.

Initial adjustment of the doctor blade relative to its clamp may bequickly effected without any necessity for attempting extreme precision.Then the doctor blade carrier may be adjusted through operation of thepinions 83 and the racks 84, also without the need of any very greatcare as to pre- -cision. Finally, the adjusting nut H4 may be The crank|02 extends around' CTI set to iix the doct0r-.blade pressure at exactlythe value desired. Thisv adjustment may also be effective to increasethe pressure between the sealing plate and the rear wall of the inkreservoir 8; but whenever the correct pressure of the doctor bladeagainst the roller 6 has been secured, the pressure of the sealing plate80 against the ink reservoir will be found to be adequate for providinga well sealed joint.

For affording further assurance that there will be no ingress of air tothe reservoir 8 adjacent the corners thereof, additional sealingsegments ||8 of the same thickness as the hubs `|3 and formed to engageand fit against portions of the hubs are provided at `the forward sideof the reservoir. Such sealing segments I8 are detachably secured to theframe members 2 and 3 by means of screws ||9.

At the rear side of the reservoir, sealing segments |20 are provided.These segments are pivotally mounted upon a shaft |2| carried by thepins 11 of the doctor blade carrier 14. The sealing segments |20 are ofthe same thickness as the hubs I3 and lit against the surfaces of thehubs. When access to the printing cylinder from the rear is desired, thesealing segments |20 are first rocked rearward about the shaft |2| andare then carried away from the cylinder with the doctor blade assemblyby operating of the handle ||5 in a clockwise direction. The parts aredetained in the retracted position through coaction of the plungerhandle I I5 with the recess I6 of the frame member 2. When operation isto be resumed with the same cylirider or a cylinder of the same size inplace, it is only necessary to restore and latch the handle ||5 in itspredetermined, advanced position and then to rock the sealing segmentsinto place in order for all the parts to be restored to their originaloperative conditions.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 4, the hubs I3 and theside walls of the reservoir 8 are formed with mating cylindricalsurfaces. In the modified construction shown in Fig. 5, the

Amachine is in all respects the same as that which has been described.However, in the modified construction, the hub members |3a and the upperside walls of the reservoir 8aI are formed with mating frusto-conicalsurfaces, and each hub portion |3a is formed with a circumferentialflange |30 which extends over a portion of the inner face of theadjacent end wall of the reservoir 8a. Such a construction preventsoutward seepage of ink that may reach the joint between the hub |3a andthe side wall of the reservoir 8a and induces any such ink to return anddrip or flow into the reservoir.

While I have described preferred embodiments of the principal featuresof my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be madein the construction and certain features thereof employed withoutothers, without departing from my invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

What I claim is:

stantially below, the hub-engaging position of the' 1. 4In a printingmachine of the sealed founaaeav're reservoir; a frame structure to guidethe reservoir for vertical upward movement from said position, and forlaterally supporting it during such movement; a lifting lever forraising the reservoir; and means for detaining the reservoir in raisedposition.

2. In a printingmachine comprising a printing roller, in combination, anink reservoir adapted to be operatively positioned beneath such roller,a frame defining a support and guideway for the introduction of thereservoir first laterally of the machine and then upwardly intooperative position, said frame including means for engagingdownwardly-facing portions of the reservoir to support and guide itduring the lateral movement, and means disposed at opposite sides of thereservoir both to guide and laterally support the reservoir during thelateral and upward movements, means for raising the reservoir, and meansfor detaining the reservoir in raised position.

3. In a printing machine comprising a printing roller, in combination,an ink reservoir adapted to be operatively positioned beneath suchroller, a frame defining a support and guideway for the introduction ofthe reservoir first laterally of the machine and then upwardly intooperative position, said frame including means for enagingdownwardly-facing portions of the reservoir to support and guide itduring the lateral movement, means disposed at opposite sides of thereservoir both to guide and laterally support the reservoir during thelateral and upward movements, and a lifting lever for the reservoircomprising a rock-shaft, an operating arm fast on the rock-shaft, and apair of load-bearing arms also fast on the rock-shaft and spacedlongitudinally of the first path to engage the reservoir during liftingat opposite sides of the center of gravity of the reservoir and atsubstantial distances from the center of gravity.

4. In a printing machine comprising a printing roller, in combination,an ink reservoir adapted to be operatively positioned beneath saidroller, said reservoir including a relatively large lower portion havingvertical side walls and an upper portion of less length having verticalend walls, i

a pair of frame members spaced apart laterally of the machine a distancesubstantially equal to the length of the upper portion of the reservoir,the iirst of said frame members having an opening through it ofsubstantially the same width as the lower portion of the reservoirl andof suflicient height to permit the reservoir to be introduced through ituntil the end walls of the upper portion of the reservoir lie betweenthe frame members, means supporting and guiding the reservoir forhorizontal movement through said opening into position with the walls ofthe upper portion of the reservoir lying between the frame members,means for lifting the reservoir vertically from said position intooperative position beneath the printing roller, and means carried by theframe for engaging the side walls of the lower portion of the reservoirto support the reservoir against sidewise tilting during both saidmovements, said reservoir being supported against endwise tilting by theopposed frame members in cooperation with the end Walls of the upperportion of the reservoir during the vertical movement.

5. In a printing machine comprising a printing cylinder, in combination,an ink reservoir adapted to be operatively positioned beneath saidcylinder, said ink reservoir having an opening at its top adapted tor acomplete and continuous enclosure with the printing cylinder, said inkreservoir` also having an opening adapted to reink pump and anapplicator through which ink delivered by the pump is applied to thecylinder,

vin combination, a vertically-extending intake pipe for the pump, an inkreservoir having an opening in the top thereof adapted to receive andsubstantially fit the pipe, means guiding the reservoir for horizontalmovement into a position in which said opening is below and in verticalalignment with said pipe, and means guiding the reservoir for verticalmovement from such position to cause the pipe to be surrounded by theopening and to have its lower end disposed in proximity to the bottom ofthe reservoir.

'7. In a printing machine of the closed fountain type which includes aprinting cylinder, an ink pump and an applicator through which inkdelivered by the pump is applied to the cylinder, in combination, avertically-extending intake pipe for the pump, an ink reservoir having alarge lower portion and an upper portion of less length and Width thanthe lower portion, said upper portion formed to operatively intert withhubs of the printing cylinder, a pair of frame members, one of which isformed with an opening through which the ink reservoir can beintroduced, means supporting and guiding the ink reservoir forhorizontal movement through said frame member in a path such that theupper portion of the reservoir travels alongside of the vertical intakepipe in non-interfering relation therewith, the lower portion of thereservoir having a top opening which is aligned with the intake pipewhen the reservoir has been fully inserted to cause the upper portion ofthe reservoir to lie between the frame members, means for raising thereservoir from its inserted position to its operative position to causethe upper portion of the reservoirto engage the printing cylinder hubsand the opening in the l'ower portion of the reservoir to travel upwardinto surrounding relation to the intake pipe, and means for detainingthe reservoir in operative position.

8. In a printing press in which gravure printing cylinders of differentdiameters are selectively installed, in combination, a doctor fbladeassembly comprising a doctor blade bearing against the installedcylinder to remove surplus ink and a doctor blade carrier, meanssecuring the doctor blade on the carrier Iwith capacity lfor adjustmenttoward and from the cylinder, a rocking support for the carrier, alever, means for holding the lever in a. predetermined, iixed position,operative connecting means between the lever and the rocking support forcausing the doctor blade to be pressed forward against the opposition ofthe cylinder including a spring, and micrometric adjusting means forrendering the action of the spring more or less positive as desired,according to whether a greater or lesser vpressure of the doctor bladeagainst the cylinder is required.

9. In a printing press in which gravure printing cylinders of differentdiameters are selectively installed, in combination, a doctor bladeassembly co-mprising a doctor blade for bearing against the installedcylinder to remove surplus ink and a doctor blade carrier, meanssecuring the doctor blade on the carrier with capacity for adjustmenttoward and from the cylinder, an arcuate track on which the doctor bladecarrier is adjustably mounted, means for fixing the carrier in adjustedposition on the track, a support for the track, y'ielding means forurging the support in a direction to press the doctor blade against thecylinder, and micrometric adjusting means for setting the stress of saidyielding means and for thereby setting the pressure of the doctor bladeagainst the cylinder at any desired value.

10. In a printing press in which gravure printing cylinders of differentdiameters are selectively installed, in combination, a doctor bladeassembly comprising a doctorblade for bearing against the installedcylinder to remove surplus ink and a doctor blade carrier, meanssecuring the doctor blade on the carrier with capacity for adjustmenttoward and from the cylinder, an arcuate track on which the doctor bladecarrier is adjustably mounted, means for operating the carrier along thetrack, means for fixing the carrier in adjusted position on the track, arocking support for the track, an operating lever for the support, meansoperatively connecting the lever ywith the support including a springthrough which the operating lever transmits force to the rocking supportfor carrying the doctor blade assembly toward the cylinder without lostmotion relative to the operating lever until opposition to the continuedadvance of the doctor blade assembly is encountered and for thereafteryielding to cause the doctor blade assembly to be urged forward with anincreasing, yielding force, means for detaining the operating lever in amechanically-determined, advanced position, and means for adjusting thestress of the spring with the operating lever so detained, to determinethe 4force with which the doctor lblade will be caused the installedcylinder to remove surplus ink and doctor blade carrier, means securingthe doctor blade on the carrier with capacity for adjustment toward andfrom the cylinder, a support for the doctor blade assembly on which thedoctor blade carrier is mounted for adjusting movement substantially orVconcentric with the cylinder, means for fixing the carrier in adjustedposition on the support, means mounting the support with capacity forrocking movement, a lever for rocking the support, means operativelyconnecting the lever with the support including spring means 4throughwhich the operative lever transmits force to the rocking support forcarrying the doctor blade assembly toward the cylinder without lostmotion relative to the operating lever until opposition t the continuedadvance of the doctor blade assembly is encountered and for thereafteryielding to cause the doctor blade assembly to be urged forward with anincreasing, yielding force, means for detaining the operating lever ina. mechanically-detemiined advanced position, and means for adjustingthe stress of the spring means with the operating lever so detained, todetermine the force with which the doctor blade will be caused to bearagainst the cylinder.

12. In a printing press in which gravure printing cylinders of differentdiameters are selectively installed, in combination, a doctor bladeassembly comprising a doctor blade bearing against the installedcylinder to remove surplus ink and a doctor blade carrier, -meanssecuring the doctor blade on the carrier with capacity for adjustmenttoward and from the cylinder, an arcuate track on which the doctor bladecarrier is adjustably mounted, the track being concentric with thecylinder when the end edge of the doctor blade rests lightly against thecylinder, means for operating the carrier along-the track, means forfixing the carrier in adjusted position on the track,` a rocking supportfor the track, an operating lever for the rocking support, meansoperatively connecting the lever with the sup, port including a springthrough which the operating lever transmits force to the rocking sup`port for carrying the doctor blade assembly toward the cylinder untilthe end edge of the doctor blade has engaged the cylinder lightly, meansfor detaining the operatinglever in a mechanically-determined advancedposition, and means associated with the operating lever for adjustingthe stress of the spring with the operating lever so detained, todetermine the force with which the doctor blade will be caused to bearagainst the cylinder.

13. In a printing press in which gravure printing cylinders of differentdiameters are selectively installed, in combination, `a doctor bladeassembly comprising a doctor blade bearing against the installedcylinder to remove surplus ink, and a doctor blader carrier, meanssecuring the doctor blade on the carrier with capacity for adjustmenttoward and from the cylinder, an arcuate track on which the doctor bladecarrier is adjustably mounted, means for operating the carrier along thetrack, means for xing the carrier in adjusted position on the track, arocking support for the track, an operating lever for the rockingsupport, means operatively connecting the lever with the supportincluding a spring through which the operating lever transmits force tothe rocking support for carrying the doctor blade assembly toward thecylinder without lost motion relative to the operating lever untilopposition to the continued advance of the doctor blade assembly isencountered and for thereafter yielding to cause the doctor bladeassembly to be urged forward with an increasing.

yielding force, means for detaining the operating lever in amechanically-determined advanced position, and means for adjusting thestress of the spring with the operating lever so detained, to determinethe force with which the doctor blade rwill be caused to bear againstthe cylinder, the arrangement being such that the doctor blade assemblycan be swung back for access or cleaning and returned to the sameoperative condiy tions as before without disturbing any of the setadjustments.

THOMAS E. PIAZZE.

